Methods of terminating pregnancy

Abstract

A method of terminating pregnancy in mammals is described by a novel application of the common fertility-promoting hormone known as human menopausal gonadotropin. A single injection of this gonadotropic hormone as early as the first day of conception can terminate pregnancy.

I claim: 
     
       1. A method of terminating pregnancy in a mammal by inducing ovarian follicular maturation and ovulation during the period from the first day of conception to the end of the first trimester of the normal gestation period for the mammal, the method comprising: injecting into the mammal a dosage of fertility promoting hormones selected from the group consisting of hMG, and the combination of FSH and LH, wherein the fertility promoting hormones are injected for up to seven consecutive days and wherein the fertility promoting hormones have a FSH activity of from seventy-five to three hundred I.U. and an LH activity of from seventy-five to three hundred I.U.   
     
     
       2. The method of claim 1 wherein said injection is administered subcutaneously. 
     
     
       3. The method of claim 1 wherein said injection is administered intramuscularly. 
     
     
       4. The method of claim 1 wherein said injection is administered intravenously. 
     
     
       5. The method of claim 1 wherein said dosage comprises substantially equal quantities of FSH and LH. 
     
     
       6. The method of claim 1 wherein the mammal is a woman. 
     
     
       7. The method of claim 1 further comprising injecting an ovulation inducing dosage of hCG in the range of 5,000 to 10,000 I.U. 24 to 48 hours after the last injection of the fertility promoting hormone. 
     
     
       8. The method of claim 1 further comprising administering to the mammal prostaglandin E in an amount of from 75 to 150 I.U./kg of body weight substantially concurrently with the last injection of said fertility promoting hormone.